300 PRUNING. 



whole of the buds of a tree are so abundantly supplied with sap from 

 the roots as to produce chiefly leaves or shoots without blossoms, then 

 by cutting off a portion of the roots the supply of sap is lessened, a 

 moderate degree of vigour is produced, and instead of barren shoots, 

 blossom-buds appear. By these means the growth of plants is controlled 

 by pruning. We can lessen the size, control the form, and direct 

 the energies of plants into either wood or flowers, by the use of the 

 knife upon either root or branch. One of the most useful effects of 

 pruning is to cause the development of dormant or adventitious buds, 

 which is effected by amputating the shoot, branch, or stem, close 

 above any point where visible buds are usually situated, though they 

 may now be wanting there. 



For forest -trees pruning is of the greatest use in modifying the 

 quantity of timber produced. Thus by commencing when the tree is 

 quite young, and shortening the side branches and encouraging the 

 leading shoot, the whole of the timber produced is thrown into a main 

 stem ; whereas had no pruning been employed, great part of the wood 

 might have been distributed in branches of little use, excepting as fuel. 

 On the other hand, should crooked timber be desired, pruning by 

 destroying the leading shoot, and encouraging those that have a 

 suitable direction, tends to attain the end in view ; and by the aid of 

 training this end can be completely effected. Trees which are stunted in 

 their growth from being hide-bound (a disease which is brought on by 

 the sudden exposure of trees to the weather after they have been 

 drawn up by shelter, and in the case of young trees by being planted of 

 too large a size in proportion to their roots), may in general be made 

 to shoot vigorously by being cut down or headed-in. On the other 

 hand, trees which are in particular situations, where it is feared they 

 will grow too large, may be arrested in their growth, or stunted by 

 amputating the larger roots. 



For ornamental trees pruning is chiefly employed to remove diseased 

 branches, because much of the effect of these trees depends on the 

 development of their natural form and character, which pruning with 

 a view to timber has in general a tendency to counteract ; but for all 

 ornamental trees, grown chiefly for their flowers or fruit, pruning can 

 be as usefully applied as in the case of fruit trees ; and where orna- 

 mental hedges and other verdant architectural structures are to be 

 grown, pruning by the bill or the shears is essential. 



For ornamental shrubs pruning cannot be dispensed with, since 

 many of them are grown for their flowers, which are produced much 

 stronger and of brighter colours when the shoots are thinned out, or 

 shortened, or both ; and when the plants are prevented from exhaust- 

 ing themselves by the removal of decaying blossoms, so as to prevent 

 them from maturing their seeds. Every one knows the value of 

 pruning to the rose, and to all shrubs with double blossoms, and 

 shrubs with large blossoms, such as the Magnolia or the Passion- 

 flower. 



Fruit trees and shrubs are above all other plants benefited by 

 pruning, which is indeed by far the most important part of their cul- 



